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joewein.de LLC
fighting spam and scams on the Internet
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"419" Scam – Advance Fee / Fake Lottery Scam
The so-called "419" scam is a type of fraud dominated by criminals from Nigeria and other countries in Africa. Victims of the scam are promised a large amount of money, such as a lottery prize, inheritance, money sitting in some bank account, etc.
Victims never receive this non-existent fortune but are tricked into sending their money to the criminals, who remain anonymous. They hide their real identity and location by using fake names and fake postal addresses as well as communicating via anonymous free email accounts and mobile phones.
Keep in mind that scammers DO NOT use their real names when defrauding people.
The criminals either abuse names of real people or companies or invent names or addresses.
Any real people or companies mentioned below have NO CONNECTION to the scammers!
Read more about such scams here or in our 419 FAQ. Use the Scam-O-Matic to verify suspect emails.
Click here to report a problem with this page.
Some comments by the Scam-O-Matic about the following email:
- This email uses a separate reply address that is different from the sender address. Spammers use this to get replies even when the original spam sending accounts have been shut down. Also, sometimes the sender addresses are legitimate looking but fake and only the reply address is actually an email account controlled by the scammers.
- This email message is a 419 scam. Please see our 419 FAQ for more details on such scams.
Fraud email example:
From: Maher Asfari<info@matizsae.com.py>
Reply-To: asfarimaher@zoho.eu
Date: 03 Nov 2018 20:11:29 +0200
Subject: PROJECT PLANNING'
Good day,
I am Mr. Asfari from Syria; I am interested in buying properties and other investments in your country through your assistance if you can help me. I would like to learn more about your country's culture and other interesting lucrative business in your country.
I would like more information about these projects so that I can learn more about the investment project in your country and clarify your plan.
I was a businessman in Aleppo before the civil war. My business has been destroyed by the war. Our economy has collapsed since 2012. There is no meaningful economic activities going on in Syria and there will be none for the foreseeable future even if the war stops today as it will take more than four decades to re-build our infrastructure and our economy.
I want my daughter to emigrate to your country but not as a refugee rather as an investor, as I still have a substantial part of my cash holdings intact. For me, I am seriously sick for eight months now. I have Chronic Lymphoid Leukaemia and according to my doctors I have no much time to live. This is why I found it wise to contact a business person in your country to help me since this country won’t be safe for my 11 years old daughter.
I wish for a prompt response from you regarding my letter.
Warm regards,
Mr.Maher Asfari
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Anti-fraud resources:
